Skin Care Products You Should Make Room for in Your Carry-On Bag

Year after year, air travel hits a peak during the holidays when many opt to be closer to friends, family, and loved ones, and take some time off before the new year. Whether your flight is under five hours or over 10, you’ll want to make sure your skin doesn’t suffer at cruising altitude.

Every seasoned traveler knows that flying—and its combination of low humidity and dry, recycled cabin air—can wreak havoc on your skin, leaving it feeling dry and looking puffy. To help prevent this from happening, make sure your carry-on bag is stocked with skin care essentials.

A Cleanser: L'Oréal Revitalift Radiant Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes

Have you ever noticed an oil film pooling on your skin’s surface while flying? This could, believe it or not, be a sign of your skin being too dry. When your skin feels dry or dehydrated, as a result of air cabin conditions for example, it can trick your sebaceous glands into producing more oil to compensate for what’s believed to be a loss. As a result, your skin can look excessively oily. To help remove excess surface oil, dirt, and impurities, and give your skin a clean slate upon which to build additional products, sweep this cleansing towelette onto your facial contours.

L'Oréal Revitalift Radiant Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes, $6 MSRP

A Facial Spray: Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water

One of the most important things you can do for your body and skin—especially when traveling—is to stay hydrated with lots and lots of water. To hydrate your skin on the outside, and give your skin a quick mid-flight refresh, spritz on a mineral-rich face mist.

Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water, $9 MSRP

An Antioxidant: SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic

While your skin is still slightly damp from the face mist, follow with an antioxidant serum for hydration and advanced protection against harsh aggressors. This vitamin C serum is a fan-favorite not just because it can help reduce the appearance of skin discoloration for brighter-looking skin but also because it can neutralize free radical damage. 

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, $166 MSRP

A Moisturizer: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 For Dry Skin Irritations

Dry skin is one of the most common skin complaints when traveling. To care for the skin on your face and body without packing two separate products, reach for this multi-purpose soothing balm for dry skin. It contains B5, which helps attract water to the skin’s surface for improved hydration.

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 For Dry Skin Irritations, $14 MSRP

An Eye De-Puffer: Lancôme Advanced Génifique Eye Light-Pearl

Woke up early to catch this flight? Help curb signs of tiredness and fatigue with an eye serum or cream. The metal bead applicator helps to de-puff eyes by targeting both above and below the eye. 

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Eye Light-Pearl, $69 MSRP

A Sheet Mask: Lancôme Advanced Gènifique Hydrogel Melting Sheet Mask 

Feeling a little dry mid-flight? Toss on a sheet mask. Lancôme’s Hydrogel Melting Sheet Mask is perfect for flights as it works in as little as 10 minutes and doesn’t leave skin looking shiny or feeling sticky. You also don’t have to rinse once you remove it, so no trips to the bathroom required. 

Lancôme Advanced Gènifique Hydrogel Melting Sheet Mask, $15 MSRP